&amp;#147;Composed Upon Westminster Bridge&amp;#148; and &amp;#147;London 1802&amp;#148; By Wordsworth.

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Introduction

Pre 20th Century Poems The first poem I have chosen to examine is called "Composed upon Westminster Bridge" by William Wordsworth and the second is "London 1802" also by Wordsworth. William Wordsworth was born in 1770 and died in 1850, he was a leading romantic poet of his time, his treatments of nature is often used in his poems, and are closely related to a religious send of the meaning of life. The mood of most of his work is reflective and calm. It is a sonnet with the rhyming sequence of ABBAABBACDCDCD. The tone of this poem is that of pleasure and appreciation to be able to see and enjoy the beautiful sight of London as it was in 1802. It is a description of London in 1802, this is a completely different era to now and many aspects of city are different. The poet, Wordsworth, is standing on Westminster Bridge looking out over London. He says that is the most wonderfully sight that anyone could ever see "Earth has not anything to show more fair" He goes on to that anyone who is not touched has a dull soul. ...read more.

Middle

The Thames is flowing golden from the sun that is soaking it, and he makes it sound like the river is very peaceful. He calls God to come a witness this beautiful sight that he is looking at. "And all that might heart is lying still" this is Wordsworth describing the city as the "heart" of the country that keeps it going, but it is asleep and peaceful with not many people moving about. This poem paints a calm and gracious picture of the city, ignoring industrialisation and using images to create a majestic view of London at that time. The second poem, entitled "London 1802" is about London in 1802 but it is very different from the first one, this is describes London as vile and stagnant. It is another sonnet but this time with the rhyme ABBA ABBA CD DE CE. It has a different tone to the first, it is angrier with the country and the city of London. The language shows his dislike for what has happened to the state of London where as in the first poem he is very grateful for being able to see the wonderful and beautiful sight of London and the surrounding fields. ...read more.

Conclusion

He calls him to return to them again and help them get their "manners, virtue, freedom, power" back. Wordsworth says that Milton had a voice that people would listen to and that he could help fix the problems that they were facing in 1802. They lines describe the character of Milton, he lived a religious life that was pure and untainted, Wordsworth believes him to be perfect. "Thou soul was like a star, and dwelt apart; Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea" This is a simile; it likens Milton's soul to a star and his voice the sea. Both the sea and stars are very majestic and clam which makes Milton sound very important and the language used by Wordsworth shows his devotion to Milton. Milton was a very modest man who did the "lowliest duties". The state of the city is in an appalling state and Wordsworth is looking for someone to help put it right and to set an example to the others. These two poems couldn't be more different they both describe London at the same time but his views have completely changed. ?? ?? ?? ?? Matthew Jeffery 1 ...read more.

Related GCSE William Wordsworth essays

The use of words to describe the exceptional quality of the scene actually implies that the opposite is usually the case in the city. Words such as, "silent", "bare", "smokeless", "asleep", "still", and "calm" all convey Wordsworth's impression of the city on that particular morning, but indicate that examples of

This line links back to the simile used at the beginning of the poem 'lonely as a cloud' as they also give an air of solitude but they also suggest Wordsworth looking back on his experience, and longing for the lake and the daffodils 'beside the lake, beneath the trees'.

The poet also uses enjambment " They stretched in never ending line/Along the margin of a bay." This creates an impression of the endless numbers of the daffodils. Wordsworth says " ten thousand saw I at glance." It seems slightly exaggerated but you can see the picture the poet is trying to create.

bare, " The use of personification here creates the image of the city wearing beauty, where beauty is a garment. Like a garment the beauty would be taken off or removed during the day, when the city is at its busiest and therefore least appealing.

-------------------------------------------------------------- Prelude. Whilst Westminster Bridge focuses on the city as a whole, prelude focuses on one area of the city and has a more grim and morbid atmosphere. Prelude was written by T.S. Elliot and the poem depicts a city life. The poet T.S.

In London fete it will be darker as the first line sets the scene. It says "all nights fell "which shows it is at night and this sets the scene for the poem. As it is a negative poem if it was a bright colourful day then the negative mood that is created in this poem wouldn't be created.

He lives life by the minute. He walks around with his head buried in the ground and the rich man walks looking up. This shows the tramp is not happy with his lifestyle but what can he do. He has neither opportunities nor chances. No one is willing to give him a chance as they believe they are better than him.

Both of these poems are about how gloomy the worlds around the poets themselves are. For example in "London 1802", when Wordsworth is talking about the state of England in the nineteenth century, "England hath need of thee; she is a fen Of stagnant waters; altar, sword, and pen" Here,